Tuesday, April 4, 2017

The catchup

Well, well, well ... surprised to see me?

Yeah me too. I've been a boring knitter these days and roller coaster of busy so I just didn't post. But here is the catch-up:

Knitting: I am literally finishing the garter border on my baby blanket. I'm definitely at the yarn chicken point, but I'm going for it. If I have to back it out to get the right number of rows, I'll lifeline it to reduce pain. 

My plans of finishing it this past weekend were interrupted by a horrible stomach bug which I'm weakly recovering from. I wore my Ravelry hoodie and slip on shoes to work today, because that's about as fussed as I could be to get there. Unsurprisingly the work still tastes the same ;)

Things learned: My tape measuring skills may not be all I thought they were.

Baking: I had a good run of cakes for a bit.
A post shared by @theellenreport on

Then it went to pot.  I overbaked a bunch of stuff this weekend. I salvaged some cookies for soccer and the neighbors, so there's that. 



Secret Ingredient: Cream cheese

Family: Well, after a long arduous journey, we have pretty much finished the High School selection and assignment process. He was accepted to the 2 private schools we applied to (Drew School and Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) 2 wonderful schools. He also got his first selection in the Public High School Lottery selection, Lincoln High, which is a very large All American high school with lots of great classes and teachers on the other side of town.

He ended up accepting a spot at his first choice, Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts in Media and Film Arts department. 

It was a long fought battle. H. submitted an initial portfolio mainly of photography and I think one stop motion piece. He then went in for his 2 hour audition. My understanding is that this was 1 part panel interview, 1 part writing assignment and then they put you in a group of other stranger children and they story boarded and shot their bit.

After the first round, we received notice he was not accepted but they would like to see additional work from him. So then he decided to work on a screenplay sample. The initial draft went surprisingly smooth. The editing not so much. The last weekend before the deadline I sent him to his room to work / edit it down. He went in with 7 pages and came out with 10. Edit was misinterpreted.

After some stereotypical Angry Asian Mom moments his father took over and it got done. He submitted and waited. 

Then we heard he did not get a spot. So we waited for the letters from SFUSD with the lottery results, fingers crossed.

But before the letters arrived I get a call from SOTA admissions saying there was a mix up and they knew a lot of families had already made *decisions and they didn't want to complicate things and send us the letter if we didn't want it, but ... he was accepted. I said, "we'll take the complication." The letters came later that day, and he found out he got into Lincoln as did 2 of his best friends. But his heart was with the art and his besties were very supportive of him. It meant the world to him to hear his friends say they would have to make sure to make plans on the weekends. I thanked their mothers in tears after, for raising such sweet boys. 

*Private schools have a decision deadline. Deposits and acceptance must be must be made in a week. For us, we had a day at this point, we were lucky and pretty comfortable with most of the public schools in the lottery.

The application process to private schools and some of the public selection schools is similar to college, tests, interviews, letters of recommendation. Hell, even the decision process reminds me of college (Big envelopes vs. little envelopes.) 

Things learned: 

  1. I may not be a helicopter parent, though I may not be the disciplinarian I thought I was, I parent from a place of using negativity as a lesson too much. Dang.
  2. As much as I am a firm believer in best fit for your child, I am a child of public school and even if we had gotten the financial aid was leaning towards the public school hard. 
  3. I think we're going to use this as an intro for the college application torment. And I'm going to bank some of that money for that SAT prep thing.

So now, I'm basically trying to stay, get? healthy, be a good worker and start decluttering my apartment, hard core. Oh and swear less. It's all really hard.

But that's me. What's been a challenge for you? What have you been changing up? 

32 comments:

  1. no wonder there's no knitting in there... have you had time to breathe?

    Congrats to your son! It always feels good to have your hard work pay off!

    Hope you're feeling better soon!

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    1. Thanks Valerie! Oh I think this is how we all see each other's lives through the blogs, right? I'm always impressed with what everyone does and it's interesting to me because we all do different AND same things. I wish the rest of the world took the time to appreciate this perspective.

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  2. Wow--what an adventure! I'm so glad that it ended as everyone wanted it to end. You have Hoody Privileges for as long as you need them!

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    1. Thanks Kim :) I'm definitely grateful the family is where we are now. And I'm totally invoking my hoody privileges. I carry one around at times like a security blanket, the cardigan's step sister, hahah!

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  3. Oh my ......I think it must have been much simpler back when our son was in school. He went to private middle school. But, we chose our local public school for high school although we purposely bought a house in that district so he could go there.

    I hope your son will be happy with his choice and have a good high school experience.

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    1. Our corner of the world is an unusual process. There are so many factors involved that I'm hesitant to say it's stupid flippantly, because it does it's best to address fairness across geographic areas and socio-economic levels. The problem is that it's very, very hard to make it "fair" by definition for everyone AND make everyone happy. That's the reality. Everyone does what they can. The fact that we have a public arts school and academic selection school in our district is huge, though there are arguments against them as well regarding resource allocation ... like I said. "fair" is a dubious thing.

      I think he will have a good high school experience. I think regardless we all know that it is going to be another layer of his experience cake that continues to shape him.

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  4. Oh that's brilliant, I am so pleased he gets the chance to go exactly where he wants to and follow his passion. And what lovely friends he has. Glad all that stress and hard work was worth it in the end. I hope he'll have a fantastic time there. Sorry you've been ill, I do hope you're feeling completely better very soon. CJ xx

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    1. Thanks CJ. I am pleased too. I think for me it was important to see him apply himself to something that was of his own interest.

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  5. wow! sounds like he got what he wanted and I bet you are glad you are done wondering where he will go! Around here you either go to a public school or pick a far away catholic school (45 min bus ride) so everyone picks public. Public is paid for by property taxes so it is free when you live in the school district area.

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    1. I feel like sometimes having any choice is overwhelming. Where I grew up there was ONE high school and that was it. It was HUGE, but there was no fussing and we had a ton of programs that I could try and potentially fail at or like, ha! But here I am now as a grown up and we adjust.

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  6. I'm so glad things worked out (and that it's over, at least for now).

    I have been following your baking on Instagram, and wow I wish I lived nearby so I could convince you to share with me. ;-)

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    1. LOL Bridget you are SO like me. Because I don't rest on my laurels, I'm always looking side to side thinking. Well this is nice, but now what?

      I wish you lived closer too so I could bake, knit and chat with you. You'd never have to convince me to share. It would be a done deal.

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  7. Feel better-this is a tough time for high school students and their parents-hang in there. Sounds like you have good, hard workers and that says a lot. Feel better!

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    1. Thank you. I think we are going to enjoy this now place and deal with the rest as it comes. Meanwhile back at the belly ranch, lots of fluids, lots of rest. Even if I'm not sleeping, I'm laying there like a floppy drama queen. hehehe

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  8. Wow! That's a ton of stuff going on (and sick on top of it all). Hope you are feeling better. So glad your son is going to his 1st choice (and so glad the applying and decision-making is over). Your cakes are making me hungry!!

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    1. Thanks Vera, I'm slowly getting better. Hopefully I'll be back to baking and knitting this weekend! I'd gladly give you a slice :)

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  9. So good to hear from you!!! You have spent your time and energy well Momma. DOnt' be so hard on yourself. As I said, to my kids, "Hey you picked me so there must be a reason I'm the way I am:"
    I love those cookies. cream cheese....oh dear. I must. try. that.
    Baby blankets never end. So I'm thrilled you are at THAT point.
    Sounds like you need to treat YOURSELF to something little and wonderful for getting through a rough time. Mothers day is a full month away...soooooo treat YOUrself!

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    1. Oooo Kathy B., I like your quote. It's a good one! And yes, that cream cheese cookie recipe is EASY and fun. I'll post it next post. It yields a lot so if you do not have an army or event you might want to consider freezing some dough or reducing the recipe. xoxo

      I treat myself too often to even call it a treat. However you have given me another excellent idea!

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  10. Congratulations all around! I'm thrilled to hear your son will be able to pursue his dream.

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    1. Thanks Nancy, the process really impressed upon us as individuals and as a family the importance of effort. We told him, look at the end of this you may not pursue further interest/education/career in this field, and that's ok. This is part of a journey. The dream is still there, whatever it is.

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  11. Goodness....I have forgotten how hard those teen years are. So many decisions. So much drama. I made a giant arse out of myself in admission offices more than once. Hang in there.

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    1. Thanks girl. SO MUCH DRAMA. Just leaving the apartment sometimes is enough for Oscars for everyone!

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  12. Wow! What a freakin' process; thank goodness I'll have to miss that. I'm so happy for your boy and for you. I'm glad he is going with his gut and not following his boys. Is Mr. Pacini still the principal? Tell him I said hello (took band with him at Giannini and saw his wife around Ulloa when she used to teach music there). Your baking makes me drool! Hot damn I want to hang out at your crib and eat. The Coffeehouse Mystery series is light but has great content as some cozies are just superficial naming. You'd like it especially if you're a coffee fan. Making more Ooii kimchee after school today! Do I have to think about what to make for dinner though? Bleh.

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    1. Actually the previous Lincoln principal is the principal at SOTA now. I could so use some light happy reading and I'm not just a fan of coffee, I'm a lifetime member as long as my stomach continues to comply. Do not even get me started on the dinner planning doldrums. I'm lucky in a way because my husband does it with me for at least half of the week. We say it's because of my schedule, but realistically he's more into it than I am most of the time. The worst is when we spend 10 mins on the phone at work talking about how bored we are with everything or we don't know what to make. Such luxuries to be allowed! But this was a goal of mine as a child. Accomplished! Not worrying about food!

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  13. Congratulations to your son! But wow it sounded like a stressful and drawn out process. So happy that he was accepted to his first choice. My niece has been waiting on pins & needles for those big college envelopes to be delivered and just found out that she got into her first choice. Big sigh of relief all around!

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    1. Thanks, he is very grateful and we all realize how fortunate we've been through the process. You see these young kids and as much as I think, they don't know how good they have it, just looking at them reminds me of that fresh hope of youth, that promise to make things better for themselves, their families, their world. (not nec. in that order.) it's inspiring.

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  14. Oh my goodness....you have been busy....and I'm sure that stomach bug couldn't have been helpful either.
    So glad everything turned out well for your son. Your baking always looks so yummy!

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    1. Thank you! Things have turned out pretty well ... for now, as my mother used to say. But we'll take it! The baking has been fun for me this spring. I think I'll ease up a bit in the summer when there is no soccer and my oven isn't going on a regular schedule.

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  15. Your tweets were hilarious today. I almost choked on my gum.

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    1. Aww, that is the best compliment ever! I'm glad I could provide some amusement. I love your tone and sense of humor so that means a lot to me. xoxo

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  16. Hope by now you're feeling great! So glad your son got into the school he wanted; it sounds perfect for his interests. (He and my GS would have fun together with their common interest in stop motion.) You will be amazed at how quickly the next four years fly by! Hang in there and enjoy the ride!

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  17. Another reason I am so glad I do not live in San Fran. We visited one October and I was happy to get back to my Midwest. But congrats on getting him where he wants to be!!! Best of wishes for his HS years.

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